Special Olympics and OneSight Essilor Luxottica Foundation They announced the extension of their influential partnership for an additional three years between 2024 and 2026 at a ceremony in New York in September 2024.
This collaboration will continue to provide essential vision care, including comprehensive eye exams and prescription lenses, to Special Olympics athletes around the world through Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Open Eyes Program.
Since the beginning of the partnership, Special Olympics and the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation have worked together to promote comprehensive health initiatives, ensuring that individuals with intellectual disabilities have access to high-quality eye care services. This renewed commitment will expand these vital services to thousands of athletes globally, promoting equity and inclusion in healthcare.
“Our partnership with OneSight EssilorLuxottica enables our athletes to support the eye health and vision care they need to achieve their best – on and off the field of play,” said David Evangelista, Senior International Development Advisor for Special Olympics International and Head of Special Olympics Europe and Eurasia.
“We are honored to continue building on our global partnership and committed to strengthening its impact together for those who need it most.”
The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has been instrumental in making high-quality vision care accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status. By focusing on the unique needs of Special Olympics athletes, this partnership has fostered an environment where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their best.
“For more than two decades, our collaboration with Special Olympics has provided eye care to hundreds of thousands of athletes,” said Becky Palm, CEO of OneSight EssilorLuxottica North America. Through our continued partnership, we look forward to providing life-changing eye care to these inspiring individuals on a broader scale.
Over the next three years, the partnership will continue to provide eye care services to Special Olympics athletes at no cost, including eyeglasses, protective sports eyewear, and referrals for further treatment when necessary. By integrating these services into Special Olympics’ broader health initiatives, the program aims to improve the quality of life for athletes, enabling them to achieve their full potential on and off the field.
Since its launch, the Special Olympics Lions Club International Foundation’s Eye Opening Program has provided more than 400,000 eye examinations and distributed more than 250,000 pairs of eyeglasses to athletes in more than 100 countries.
More information is available online.
